Just as Ethan's consciousness returned to his physical form, right when he was at his most frustrated…
"Hey, dumbass. Where'd you go?"
A voice exploded in his mind. It was incredibly familiar.
Ethan's eyes lit up. The voice echoing inside his mind belonged to his Trifurcate Spirit, his Second Avatar.
Ethan had never placed restrictions on that version of himself. The Avatar moved freely, came and went as he pleased, and Ethan had never regarded him as a disposable duplicate. In a strange way, the Avatar felt closer to a brother than a clone. After helping defeat Yurix and escape the Divine Sea Temple, they had returned to Earth together, and the Avatar had immediately disappeared to enjoy modern life, chasing distractions Ethan himself rarely allowed.
The moment the Avatar spoke again, Ethan instinctively extended his senses. To his surprise, he could clearly feel the Avatar's location. The connection was sharp, unmistakable. If he followed that direction, he could return home.
